Thursday, May 29, 2008

Oh Lord, You're beautiful

Oh Lord, you're beautiful; Your face is all I seek.For when your eyes are on this child, Your grace abounds to me.

I want to take your word and shine it all around.But first help me to just, live it Lord.And when I'm doing well, help me to never seek a crown.For my reward is giving glory to you.

Oh Lord, please light the fire, That once burned bright and clean.Replace the lamp of my first love, That burns with Holy fear.

In 1979, after negotiating a release from his contract with Sparrow, Keith Green surprised many in the music industry by refusing to charge money for concerts or albums. Keith and Melody mortgaged their home to privately finance Green's next album, So You Want To Go Back ToEgypt. The album, which featured a guest appearance by Bob Dylan, was offered through mail-order and at concerts for a price determined by the purchaser. As of May 1982, Green had shipped out more than 200,000 units of his album – 61,000 for free. When his music was carried by Christian bookstores, a second cassette was included free of charge for every cassette purchased to give away to a friend to help spread his message.

Keith Green died on July 28, 1982 at the age of 28 in a plane crash along with his 3 year old son and 5 year old daughter.

"I repent of ever having recorded one single song, and ever having performed one concert, if my music, and more importantly, my life has not provoked you into Godly jealousy or to sell out more completely to Jesus!" — Keith Green